A flat roof is not the usual type of residential roofing you see in North America. Since most homes are sloped, flat roofs are more common on commercial buildings. With that said, a home can ultimately have a roof designed in various formats, including being flat.
There are many advantages to a flat roof, especially when it comes to material, weather, maintenance, and usability. Here are the benefits of having a flat roof.
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1. Upfront Costs Are Lower
The majority of flat roofs are made using rolled roofing materials. These are very inexpensive compared to alternatives. They are also very inexpensive to replace when it comes time to schedule a replacement with a specialist like SKP Roofing. All roofing has a lifespan and the average lifespan for a flat roof is between ten and 15 years.
2. They Are Unique to Look At
A flat roof isn’t the most common sight on many streets in North America. This gives your home a unique feature that makes your property a highlight. Considering the versatility of flat roofs, especially if you should come to use the space for something, it’s a whole different way to enjoy your roof in a way that a slope won’t allow.
3. They’re Easy to Design
A flat roof doesn’t need any special calculation or consideration when it comes to installation and design. A flat roof is exactly that – flat. It’s a lot easier to put on a property of any design, as it does not need the same sort of supports a sloped roof does. A contractor is far less likely to run into an issue with a flat roof than they will with other types.
4. They’re Energy-Efficient
In warmer climates, flat roofs are acclaimed for being more energy-efficient than sloped roofs. They’ll bring down utility costs with less sloped space to allow air to stagnate. A property can successfully retain more of the temperature it’s trying to maintain with a flat roof. Though in climates a little colder can present some challenges, a flat roof can stand up well in those environments as well.
5. You Can Build a Home Addition
A flat roof adds more square footage to your home in a very creative way. Some people take it upon themselves to create a rooftop garden here. This is particularly popular with multi-unit residential dwellings and for a home, it’s no different. To do this, you have to make sure your flat roof is constructed correctly. Additional measures are taken to maximize safety, of course.
6. They’re Easy to Clean
A flat roof is very easy to maintain and clean. You can prevent debris from building up rather easily. Pressure-washing may be the easiest way to clean a roof without causing any damage, having to hire someone, or extending yourself beyond where you’re comfortable. This does depend on the roofing material, however. Regardless, a flat roof is easy to look after for homeowners who haven’t done any roofing maintenance in the past.
7. Flat Roofs Are Safer
A flat roof is significantly less dangerous to navigate. You slip on a sloped roof and that’s going to be a tumble with some gravity behind it. You slip on a flat roof and it’s similar to falling on any flat surface. If you have to go up on your roof to make repairs, clean, or inspect, you are not forfeiting your safety to do so.
8. They’re Affordable to Repair
Hopefully, you do not need to make any repairs to your flat roof. If fixing them is necessary, they’re very affordable to do. A flat roof is often less costly to repair than more advanced roofing. It’s also something that some homeowners choose to attempt themselves considering how easy a flat roof is to navigate.
9. Flat Roofs Are Durable and Reliable
Flat roofs are reliable and long-lasting. They are often designed to be water-resistant, thereby minimizing the risk of water damage during rainstorms and in winter. Being flat, the roof won’t encounter as much wind as other types of roofing do. This once again minimizes the sort of damage that befalls other roofing. Flat roofing may require the occasional clearing and maintenance in that way. Other than this, a roof will prove to be quite reliable and show a similar lifespan as some other non-flat roofing materials.
10. There Are Weatherproofing Options
Flat roofs receive a lot of talk about their inability to handle things like snow and ice, with these things piling up and adding weight to a roof. These days, flat roofing can be built with certain weatherproofing and materials to help with these issues. As a homeowner, it’s also effortless to clear away any debris that accumulates on a flat roof. Depending on your ability to maintain your flat roof, this is certainly worth remembering when looking at roof types.
